Friday, January 21, 2011

Updated: 5th and Elm Coffee House opens in Houghton location

By Michele Bourdieu

Baristas Lisa Erickson and Luke Palosaari welcome customers to the new 5th and Elm Coffee House location at 326 Shelden Ave., Houghton, on opening day, Jan. 15, 2011. Erickson's special chocolate-caramel bars are hard to resist -- on the counter in the foreground. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Coffee lovers in Houghton welcomed the 5th and Elm Coffee House to its new location at 326 Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton last Saturday, Jan. 15. The coffee aroma is easily detected from the street, even on a snowy day.

Frank Fiala, 5th and Elm Coffee House co-owner, chats with Mary Wright of Hancock, center, and Carol Ekstrom of Houghton on Saturday, Jan. 15, opening day for the 5th and Elm in its new Houghton location.

Co-owners Frank and Emily Fiala recently moved the business from east Hancock and celebrated a "soft opening" last weekend to accommodate patrons coming in to warm up from the Jibba Jabba Rail Jam snowboarding competition downtown, skiers from Mont Ripley and participants in other outdoor events scheduled for the weekend.*

While the full menu was not yet available, the coffee was hot and flowing and sandwich makers were busy in the kitchen preparing lunches.

Rachel Niemeyer, left, and Heather Palosaari prepare sandwiches in the new 5th and Elm kitchen.

Update: The new Houghton location, inside the Hellman Building, is easily accessible from the upper parking deck via the covered pass-through walkway between Swift Hardware and 5th and Elm, from Houghton's lower parking lot via the stairway up to Shelden Avenue right next door or from street parking on Shelden. It is about three times as big as the Hancock store (which was located in Hancock's former Spice of Life bakery), according to Boone Fiala, who manages the original 5th and Elm Coffee House in Calumet. Boone was helping his parents put finishing touches on the new store earlier last week.

Frank Fiala said one reason for the move was to achieve goals they weren't able to achieve in the old (Hancock) location. He is especially looking forward to the possibility of outdoor tables and activities in warm weather because of the terrace adjacent to the Hellman Building.

"To grow our business we just needed more visibility," Frank noted. "One of the goals was to create an outdoor gathering area. We had no potential for that in the old location, but this one gives us the opportunity not only for outdoor seating but for a variety of outdoor activities -- music, receptions, a garden atmosphere. People enjoying our coffee, our food and each other on a summer's night is my primary goal."

The new 5th and Elm will probably be open seven days a week and as late as 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. eventually, Frank added.

"Our hours will vary depending on activities going on and what the demand is," he said. "Today we didn't know what to expect. We just wanted to be open to provide a warm place for the people outside."

Emily Fiala confirmed the new 5th and Elm also has wireless Internet for customers who bring their laptops. In addition to outside seating in warm weather, plans are to have bike delivery for customers, Emily noted.

Emily Fiala, co-owner, washes dishes on opening day at the 5th and Elm. The new location in Houghton is in a building with lots of windows. Even the kitchen has a great view -- of Mont Ripley and the Portage.

Lisa Erickson and Rachel Niemeyer took a break after making sandwiches and coffee for customers. Both of them had worked at the Hancock store and were enthusiastic about the opening day in the new Houghton location.

Lisa Erickson, right, takes a coffee and sandwich break with fellow 5th and Elm food prep-barista Rachel Niemeyer. Erickson noted the Coffee House will continue to offer, in addition to the traditional deli sandwiches, gluten-free bread in sandwiches for customers with special needs.

"I was cleaning the windows outside, and a UPS driver friend said he thought we'd be open two weeks ago," Erickson said. "He said, 'Hurry up!' so we must comply. It's just full of life here!"

Regular 5th and Elm customers Mary Wright, artist, of Hancock and Carol Ekstrom, retired professor, of Houghton said they would continue to meet at the 5th and Elm every Monday to talk about Wright's current storyline project -- a community arts project in conjunction with the Pine Mountain Music Festival's opera Rockland, coming next summer.

"I just like the coffee," Ekstrom said. "And I really like the soups. The soups are wonderful!"

"Carol and her husband, Peter, are supporters of arts and culture," Wright added, "and Carol is an artist in her own right."

The Ekstroms are both retired professors from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

"We came here on our honeymoon, and we've had a cabin here since '81," Carol Ekstrom said. "We just love it up here."

Wright said her favorite coffee drink is a "red eye" -- a shot of espresso in a cup of coffee.

"In case your eyes are bloodshot from a little-rough night, this'll get you going," she explained.

Photographer Adam Johnson of Brockit.com came in from the cold with his daughter Kora, age 7.

Photographer Adam Johnson stopped in for a 5th and Elm coffee with his daughter Kora, 7, at the new location in Houghton on opening day, Jan. 15.

"I have a tab here," Johnson joked. "Since I'm a coffee snob, this place and I work well together."

Lori Geshel of Painesdale, whose son Wyatt was competing in the Jibba Jabba snowboard competition, said she was a first-time customer at 5th and Elm. With her were daughter Aliina, age 9, and her brother, musician Randy Wakeham.

Lori Geshel, left, of Painesdale, her daughter Aliina and her brother, musician Randy Wakeham came in from the cold for hot drinks at the 5th and Elm on Jan. 15. In the background Luke Palosaari, barista, prepares coffee drinks.

Larry Sutter and Patti Lins of Houghton came in for a quick take-out coffee on their way to watch the Jibba Jabba.

"This is a good location," Lins said. "Hope it works out."

Luke Palosaari, barista, serves take-out coffee to Larry Sutter and Patti Lins of Houghton, who were on their way to the Jibba Jabba snowboard competition in downtown Houghton Jan. 15.

Luke Palosaari, barista, served their coffee with his usual efficiency. His wife, Heather, was busy helping make sandwiches in the kitchen.

The 5th and Elm is a family operation with a warm, family-friendly ambiance. At the same time, it's like a French café -- where you can have breakfast, lunch or a snack (like Lisa Erickson's yummy chocolate caramel bars!) or sit with your coffee or espresso (the real thing!) -- as long as you like. Check it out!

*Editor's Note:Click here to see our photos and video clips of the Jibba Jabba Rail Jam.

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Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016

Christmas in Calumet continues this Saturday, Dec. 10, with wagon rides, visits with Santa at the Vertin Gallery, and more. Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.

Local group to stand vigil for Standing Rock Dec. 8

The local group Copper Country and Keweenaw Standing For Standing Rock invites concerned citizens to show solidarity with the Water Protectors and Veterans at Standing Rock in North Dakota in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Participants will gather at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, walk down to Wells Fargo on College Avenue/US 41, peacefully stand vigil for divestment from Energy Transfer Partners, then return to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. They will then conduct a Prayer Circle from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. All interested community members are welcome to join the group at any time during the event. Please make a sign to bring attention to this issue that affects us all. Suggested sign messaging includes: Wells Fargo Divest, Stand With Standing Rock, Water Is Life, No DAPL. The group will also be accepting donations throughout this event to be sent out to the Water Protectors. Winter survival donations (including snow removal tools, snow shovels/scoops/snowblowers) take priority. For specific ideas, follow this link:http://sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/

Reminder: Meeting on Popular Vote Dec. 8

The National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact, a "way around" the Electoral College, will be examined in a program by The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, in the community room of the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. Click here for details.

+News Briefs / Announcements

Noteworthy, the Copper Country's only women's barbershop chorus, will perform its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock. "A Noteworthy Christmas" also features a vocal ensemble from Hancock High School. There is no charge for admission, and a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Copper Country Habitat for Humanity. Noteworthy will perform a program ranging from the lighthearted "It’s a Marshmallow World" to devout songs of the Christmas story. Among them is a richly layered rendition of "Mary, Mary" with a calypso beat and "The Birthday of a King." Other holiday favorites on the program include "Christmas Dreams," "Jingle Bell Jazz," "What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?" and the nostalgic "Marvelous Toy." For more information on Noteworthy, contact Joan Petrelius at 906-482-5088 or petreliusj@cts.k12.mi.us.......Family and support people for individuals living with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, can register for a free course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)/Keweenaw Area chapter. The series of 12 sessions is structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals while maintaining their own well-being. The course, designated an evidence-based practice by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is taught by a team of trained NAMI family member volunteers who know what it is like to have a loved one struggling with one of these brain disorders. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Houghton. They are for support people only. Pre-Registration is required and is open now. Call Bill or Barry Elizabeth Fink at 482-4632.......Do you participate in a book group? The Portage Lake District Library is creating a list of local book groups for all ages and would like to hear about yours. Useful information includes the name of your group and contact person, a theme if you have one, and dates and time that you meet. Please also say if your book group is for adults, teens, or grade school students. For more information, please call Chris at the library at 482-4570.......Storytime for the school year at the Portage Lake District Library is held from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. Young children are invited to come for stories, craft projects, occasional music, and lots of fun. For special Storytimes on Saturdays, please look for announcements on library posters and on the library’s website. Children are also encouraged to use the Children’s Listening Center at the library to enjoy music, foreign languages, and stories on CDs. Up to four people at a time can use the equipment, including parents who want to help their children learn another language or simply enjoy music or a good book together. Please ask a librarian to help you get started. All library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team) is planning a 2016 Winterization Campaign and Efficiency Challenge. Local businesses, organizations and church groups are getting involved. HEET has moved into a new office in Hancock at 422 Quincy St. in Hancock. Click here for info.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club

Houghton County Democratic Party

Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016.- All items need to be out by 7 a.m.-Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck)-Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods:-East of Elevation Street will be on Monday.-West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday.*Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY.-Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s.-Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes!-Service is also available to small commercial.-The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive)QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121.Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.Thank you for your participation.

Slide Show: 2015 Parade of Nations

Click on the photo above to access this slide show. Then click on the first photo and follow the right arrows. To view the captions click on the info icon.

Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...

Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.

The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.

Copyright Policy

For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.

Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show

In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.

Keweenaw Now is on TWITTER. Scroll down this column to see our latest Tweets.

Save the Wild UP

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Friends of the Land of Keweenaw

Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition's mission is protecting and maintaining the unique environmental qualities of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government. Visit UPEC on Facebook.

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District

HKCD's 2016 Tree Sale has found a home for every tree and plant. Gina Nicholas, HKCD president, thanks the volunteers and friends who helped make the sale a success. HKCD donated some plants and trees to the school gardens at Calumet, Chassell and Houghton. "It is great that the schools are helping children gain first hand experience about gardening and where the food we eat comes from," Nicholas said.

Save the Water's Edge

Portage Lake District Library

Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

Finlandia University

Stewards of Bete Grise Preserve

A Rascal's Craft

The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.

Distant Drum

Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.

Calumet Art Center

Click above to learn about new classes starting in February 2016.

New edition of book by Steve Lehto

Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.

Red Circle Consulting

Mike Lahti at State Farm

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Keweenaw BEST!

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

What Is Sustainable

Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.

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Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.

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